Obituary: Dan Coleman of Zarsky Lumber

Coleman, 82, was the CEO of Zarsky Lumber Co. and community leader of Victoria, Texas.

May 28, 2013

Dan Russell Coleman was a lumber industry executive, community leader, Air Force veteran and father. He died at his home in Victoria, Texas, May 25 at the age of 82.

According to his obituary notice, he was born in Waxahachie, Texas on May 8, 1931 and moved to Victoria, Texas in 1936, when his father accepted a management position with Zarsky Lumber Co.

In his youth, he swept up at the lumberyard, sold Cokes to the employees and customers, and was a Boy Scout. He graduated from Victoria College in 1951 and entered the Air Force during the Korean Conflict and served from 1951 to 1953.

He attended Texas A&M for a short period of time and soon joined his father at Zarsky Lumber in 1953. He became the manager of the Victoria location in 1975 and eventually rose to president and CEO. Coleman led the company's growth to its current ten locations.

He was the president of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas in 1979 and was awarded the honor of Lumberman of the Year for the state of Texas in 1984. He served on the board of directors for the Wayne, Pa.-based Lumbermen's Merchandising Corporation.

He was also president of the Victoria Homebuilder's Association in 1971 and was named Builder of the Year in 1970. For a number of years he was a managing partner of Coleman Roth Homes. He served on the South Texas Savings board of directors for a number of years and was its chairman of the board for two years. Coleman was active with the Suburban Kiwanis Club and was its president in 1966.

Because he was so fulfilled by his career, he had few hobbies, but he was always ready for travel. He had been to all 50 U.S. states and had visited at least four other continents. Additionally, he had some ranchland that he greatly improved over the years and raised a few head of cattle. His weekend daytrips to his ranch continued until as recently as two months ago.

He is survived by his wife Melba Jean Cooper Coleman, to whom he was married almost 54 years, his daughter, Cally Coleman Fromme, her husband Travis, and their children Karoline and Coleman.

Cally Coleman Fromme followed her father's career path into the lumber industry. An executive at Zarsky, she was elected chairman of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) in 2011.

Arrangements are being made for a private burial this week followed by a memorial service held on Friday, May 31st at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Victoria.

Donations are welcome at First United Methodist Church and Trinity Episcopal School.